Litter



Nov. 29, 1949 K. F. SPRINGER LI TTER 2 sheevts-sheet 1 Filed oct. 10, 1944 @www Nov. 29, 1949 K. F. SPRINGER LITTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Oct. 10, 1944 Patented Nov. 29, 1949 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LITTER Kenneth F. Springer, Northport, N. Y.

Application October 10, 1944, Serial No. 558,033

2 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a litter which combines, in its construction, maximum flexibility and complete safety for the patient, as well as .eicient immobilization of fractures of any part of the body; to provide a litter which so securely fixes the position ofthe patientftherein that safety in transit i'smade possible whether the vlitter is to be vlifted vertically disposed or horizontally; 'toprovi'de l'a litter whichpermits maximum vmanipulation of the patient without discomfort 'or danger 'of vadditional injury; Vand to provide a 'litter 'which l'is vcomparativelySlight in Weight"andjyetstrong,"durable, flexible and,when conditions necessitate it, 'floatable With this l'object in view 'the 'invention .consists 'oi a 'construction and combination .ofiparts of :which apreferred embodiment 'is illustrated 'in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating vthe manner in which 'the `litter is employed tosecure a patient in positionltobe transported;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, showing the construction-.of the litter;

VFigure Sois a bottom plan View;

,Figure .4 .is a sectional view on the plane indicated bythe line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

-Figurefli ,is a sectional view .onthe pla-ne indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

The litter is constructed of two plies l and Il of fabric, preferably canvas, out, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, to provide a body portion I2, leg wings i3 and side wings I4 which are extended on the upper edges, as indicated at I5, to provide breast flaps, the upper end I6 of the body portion being the head zone in which the headpiece Il is positioned and removably secured in place with the fasteners i3. The headpiece is identical with that disclosed in Patent No. 2,361,328, issued December 26, 1944. The breast flaps I of the side wings are formed as continuations of the latter at their free edges and are spaced from the body portion i2, so that clearance spaces for the arms are provided when the side wings overlap and embrace a contained patient and the breast naps cover his chest. Similarly the leg wings I3, at their upper edges, are spaced from the lower edges of the side wings thereby providing for exposure of the abdominal region of the contained patient,

The two plies are marginally secured together with a line of stitching, as indicated at IS, and are additionally secured one to the other by the spaced lines of .stitching 2c, so as to provide Sleeves in which the bars 2l are received, these bars being preferably wooden and flat on one face and rounded on the opposite face. The flat faces of the bars are disposed next 'to the ply Ill which contacts the body of the patientand the outer ply II is cut full enough so that all of the 'bulge due to the inclusion of the bars exists in this ply, as clearly shown in Figure 5. y

The marginal stitching is omitted at the lower ends of the two plies to provide for removal of the bars `in case of necessity, as when one or more are broken and must be replaced. But'the access opening resulting from the omission of the stitching is closed by means of snap fasteners Vl22 vof which companion elements are securedrrespectively to the two plies. This mode of construction is also employed in the side wings I4 and leg wings I3 each of which carries bars 23 shorter than but otherwise identical to bars 20. rIn the leg wings .the bars are confined to those portions adjoining the body portion ,of the litter, being omitted from those portions which voverlap when conning a patient. In the side wings the bars are positioned one adjacent thev inner edge of and extending into the breast ap and the other between the first bar and the body portion vof the litter. In the patient embracing position, therefore, there are bars lying against the ribs of the patient on either side beneath lthe arms and on the chest.

For use in hoisting and lowering the litter is provided with the longitudinal straps '24 which are sewed to the litter on the outer face of the under ply II at the edges of the body portion I2. These straps extend beyond the ends of the body portion and their extremities are connected with the fall rings 25 whose bight receiving eyes are of the shape of an isosceles triangle so that there will be no tendency of the ends of the straps to be forced together on the application of tension to the straps when the litter is being hoisted or lowered.

Loops 26 of the same material as the straps 24 are secured to the latter just above the side wings I4 and at intermediate points in the length of the leg wings I3. These loops constitute means, when the litter is being transported horizontally, for the reception of bars or guns so that the litter may be supported thereon without possibility of sliding longitudinally.

Additionally to provide transporting means straps 2'I are sewed on the outer face of the under ply II and, extending transversely of the litter, are terminated in hand loops 28.

To secure the patient in the litter the straps 29 and 30 are employed, the former in the area of the side wings I4 and the latter in the area of the leg 3 wings I3. These straps are secured to the litter but their extremities are free so that the one end may be readily engaged with the buckle carried by the other end.

A strap 3| is attached to the litter transversely thereof and is disposed between the two straps 29. This strap is wider than the straps 29 but is provided with terminal sections of the same Width as the latter. The function of the strap 3l is to bind the arms of the patient closely to his sides when he has otherwise been secured in the litter.

Figure 1 of the drawings clearly discloses the manner of securing the patient in the litter and when thus secured he may be readily transported either by carrying in a horizontal position by the carriers grasping the hand loops 28 or by passing bars or guns through the loops 26 and using the former as handles. Lowering or raising through a shaft or otherwise where the horizontal position is impracticable may be accomplished by tackle attached to the rings 25 of which the upper will carry the weight and the lower serve as a means for guiding the lower end. In either method of handling the patient fractures are eiciently immobilized by reason of the incorporation of the bars or battens 2| in the litter itself. Also while the patient may have relatively cornplete freedom of movement of parts of the body, the body itself will not shift. Where necessity requires it the litter may be readily oated by securing appropriate buoyant members in the loops 26 and 26 or otherwise attaching them.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A litter comprising dual plies of fabric, bars disposed between the plies and extending longitudinally of the litter in laterally spaced relation, means connecting the plies marginally and between the bars, flexible dual ply leg and side wings formed as lateral integral extensions of the litter, the side wings having breast flaps formed as upwardly directed continuations thereof but spaced from the edges of the litter to provide clearance spaces for the arms of a contained patient, and straps secured to the underside of the litter in the areas of the leg and side wings and designed to encircle the latter when they embrace the patient, one of said straps being exterior to the arms of the patient.

2. A litter comprising dual plies of fabric, bars disposed between the plies and extending longitudinally of the litter in laterally spaced relation, means connecting the plies marginally and between the bars, flexible dual ply leg and side wings formed as lateral integral extensions of the litter, the side wings having breast flaps formed as upwardly directed continuations thereof but spaced from the edges of the litter to provide clearance spaces for the arms of a contained patient, bars incorporated in the leg wings but only adjacent to the litter, bars incorporated in the side wings one adjacent the inner edge of the breast flap and continuing into the latter and the other between the first and the edge of the litter, and straps secured to the underside of the litter and adapted to encircle the wings when embracing the patient.

KENNETH F. SPRINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 261,796 Wells July 25, 1882 677,673 Mahan July 2, 1901 722,456 Reeves Mar. 10, 1903 787,848 Lung Apr. 18, 1905 899,279 Wilson Sept. 22, 1908 975,996 Reed Nov. 15, 1910 1,371,830 Wise Mar. 15, 1921 2,033,779 Monk Mar. 10, 1936 2,279,694 Martinson Apr. 14, 1942 2,309,464 Lucci et al. Jan. 26, 1943 2,350,573 Smith June 6, 1944 2,361,328 Springer Oct. 24, 1944 2,366,082 Baker Dec. 26, 1944 2,410,181 Peters Oct. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 352,496 Great Britain July 7, 1931 440,645 Germany Feb. 11, 1927 554,366 Great Britain June 30, 1943 577,692 Germany June 2, 1933 742,696 France Jan. 4, 1933 

